one with the birds

leave me alone is all that i say

when i have nothing in me to give away

a purple martin in her house

she hollers at me

why be inhuman? why be like me?

like so many robins

like so many doves

like so many lovebirds with so many loves

like the songs of the bobwhite without any words

when we are inhuman we're one with the birds

at six in the morning you rise from the pillow

stand steaming above me; i slumber below

i'm one with the blanket laying fragrant and loose

you're one with a whippoorwill

you're one with a goose

like so many robins

like so many doves

like so many lovebirds with so many loves

like the songs of the bobwhite without any words

when we are inhuman we're one with the birds

so tweet with me and widely spread

your olive wings; embrace my head

fly with me 'til we are dead

and one with the birds

like so many seagulls

like so many hawks

like so many thrushes and so many cocks

a swallow will tell you without using misleading heartrending words

when we are inhuman we're one with the birds

when we hide our feelings we may as well fly away""